In March our 11th and 12th graders went to Washington DC to participate in the L'taken Social Justice Seminar, a program by the Religious Action Center that empowers teens to learn about issues that they care about and then advocate to their representatives and senators on the Hill. A few our teens wrote this speech below about the issue of refugee resettlement and humanitarian aid, which they presented at representative Joseph Kennedy III's office.

Hello, my name is Evan, and this is Zach Oshins, Jake Wolfson, and Natalie Harder, and we’re from Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley Mass, led by Rabbi Joel Sisenwine. Thank you for taking the time to meet with us today. We are here in Washington with hundreds of other teens to participate in the L’taken seminar, a four-day program focusing on Jewish values in politics. We come here today, representing the Religious Action Center to add our Jewish viewpoint on the critical issue of assisting the Syrian refugees who currently face brutal repression and no place to call their own. It is not only resided in the Jewish tradition to do everything in our power to help refugees, but an American tradition rooted in the history of the country. With each passing day, the Syrian refugees are at a greater risk of losing their lives and those of loved ones from caring mothers, working fathers, loyal brothers and loving sisters, and of course friends and neighbors that tie the knot of community. The stories of past American immigrants who came here for a better future proves that by providing shelter for refugees, refugees provide back to the benefit of this country.

America is a nation founded by refugees. We are a country that is a beacon of hope for many refugees and immigrants, which is where the phrase the American dream comes from. A big stereotype of Syrians, and Muslims in general, is that all of them are terrorists. This characterization could not be more wrong, as these refugees are fleeing terrorism and violence themselves. In Syria, over half of the original population has been forced to flee leaving 11 million refugees without a home. It is a very unfair and wrong stereotype that halts the intake of possible innovators to not only American society but the world. Albert Einstein created the theory of relativity and the famous equation E=mc2, but was also a German Jew who sought refuge in America when Hitler came to power. Right now there are 2.5 million Syrian refugees who are of schooling age and by bringing them here we give them the opportunity to succeed just as we did for Einstein. By bringing in these children, we give them the chance to help our nation and the world advance.

We all know the age-old story of Cain killing his brother Abel. After Cain set upon his brother God asked about his brother’s whereabouts, well-knowing what had just taken place. Abel responds with the infamous phrase, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” In saying, “I do not know,” Cain is not only trying deceiving God, but also he is trying to deceive himself. As human beings, we live through the actions we have taken and the actions we have witnessed. It is a waste of time to lie to oneself because someone is always watching, whether it be God or just a stranger you did not notice, people’s choices do not go unwitnessed. The fact that Cain even needs to asks the question “am I my brother’s keeper” is problematic. It is problematic because this tells us that Cain has no understanding of the idea unity. As time goes on and America’s role in the Global community grows, we cannot ask the same question Cain asks. We must understand that it is our duty as human beings to stand hand in hand and work to create a sense of global unity. If we ignore our brothers and sisters in Syria we are overlooking a serious problem in our global community. We must pray for those who cannot pray for peace, fight for those who cannot fight for freedom, and save those who cannot save themselves. As an American Jew, it is extraordinarily important to deal with the Syrian refugee crisis in the most delicate and thoughtful way possible. If someone is to ask, “how can we deal with the refugee crisis,” we as both Americans and Jews, cannot say “I do not know” because then we are no better than Cain. We cannot stand idly by and allow innocent people to be killed. We must protect our brother, for we have seen our own people during the Holocaust be rejected from safety and subsequently murdered for lack of a haven.

Hirsch Altman was 14 years old when he was forced out of his home town of Brzezany, Poland. After witnessing the murder of his three older sisters and both of his parents, the Soviet occupation, and Nazi persecution and brutality, Hirsch fled, leaving behind his life as he knew it. He spent four years as a displaced person, living an inhuman life barely holding onto his existence, let alone his dignity. Finally after years of living in constant fear and being completely alone, he was allowed to enter the United States of America to live with his uncle in Connecticut. Once in the United States, Hirsch worked relentlessly to create a better life for himself, eventually becoming a successful dentist, marrying the love of his life, a young woman named Laura, and having three children and four grandchildren, one of which I am honored and lucky enough to be. Stories like my grandfather’s are unfortunately very familiar to refugees today. In fact, there are more global refugees today than there were during World War II when my grandfather was in their shoes. I am only here right now because the United States opened it’s gates and it’s hearts to threatened and frightened refugees, like my grandfather. Seventy years from now, I hope that with your help the grandchildren of the current refugees will tell similar stories to the one I am able to tell today.

On behalf of The Religious Actions Center for Reform Judaism, Jake, Natalie, Zach and I would like to thank you for your past support for refugees. We ask that you continue supporting refugees by opposing limitations on refugee resettlement, supporting funding for the Office of Refugee Resettlement, and supporting increased humanitarian aid to Syria. Thank you for your time!

Inspired by our teens and want to make a difference? You can do any of these three things to help repair the world:1.You can call your representative right now to and ask them to support refugee resettlement and humanitarian aid! All you have to do is call the Congress Switchboard at 202-224-3121.2. Want to go on a similar experience? Talk to Sandy Aronson about the Consultation on Conscience, the Religious Action Center's flagship social justice conference!3. You can Donate to our Youth Engagement Fund to support teens who want to turn their passions into action!

In March our 11th and 12th graders went to Washington DC to participate in the L'taken Social Justice Seminar, a program by the Religious Action Center that empowers teens to learn about issues that they care about and then advocate to their representatives and senators on the Hill. A few our teens wrote this speech about Gun Violence Prevention below, which they presented at Representative Katherine Clark's office.

Hello, my name is Olivia Brasher, I’m from Natick and I’m speaking alongside Julia Joseph from Natick and Michael Korbin from Weston. We are here representing the youth at Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with us.

Today we would like to discuss the issue of gun violence with you.

In the wake of the shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, only one of the latest of the numerous mass shootings that have devastated our nation in recent years, gun violence is an increasingly relevant and upsetting issue that we face. Over 30,000 Americans die each year from gun violence; this translates to eighty-seven deaths per day, including eight people under the age of nineteen. These are eighty-seven deaths per day that could be prevented by expanding background checks to all firearm sales, including the 40% of sales that go through unlicensed vendors, and by requiring increased responsibility of gun owners and federal agencies to provide information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. To allow these preventable deaths to continue would be morally inexcusable. As U.S. citizens, we closely value every person’s life and right to personal and public safety, and we rely on legislation not only to reflect these values and beliefs but to ensure our most basic sense of security. This sentiment is reflected by the 85% of Americans who agree that participants of private gun sales should be subjected to background checks. It is our responsibility to end this problem.

A gun has one purpose when it is created, to kill. When the Prophet Isaiah told the people of the earth to “Beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks”, It was a command to take our weapons and turn them into useful tools for society. As Jews we must stand together to eliminate this issue of gun violence that is plaguing our country. In the torah it is said “Do not stand idly by while your neighbor’s blood is shed” this is a key to help the Jewish people to understand that we cannot sit back and watch while innocent people are killed. Our religion expresses how activism is a primary importance to leading people to a more peaceful society. Back at home teenagers such as us have worked with the Roxbury Presbyterian Church to raise money to help with primary prevention programs. Adults in our community have been working hard with the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence on passing recent gun legislation. We hope you can help us pass similar legislation so it can affect the entire country.

Recently, my family and I walked off of an airplane, excited that we had reached our destination. When proceeding to baggage claim, a bitter presence was in the air and I suddenly felt unsettled. Just one month prior to the day we landed at the Fort Lauderdale- Hollywood International Airport, 11 travellers were shot, 5 killed, in the exact same terminal that I was standing in. I walked through the airport in fear and utter disbelief. a tense, anxious feeling encompassed me and I felt uneasy everywhere I turned. I felt guilty- why was I here, peacefully walking to retrieve my suitcase when only one month ago, another woman was doing the same thing, but lost her life for it? I felt ashamed. Ashamed that the country that my relatives came to a century ago to seek asylum, the country that I have been raised in my entire life, the country that I have supported, protested, and shown patriotism for through the prosperous and beastly moments within the last decade, was no longer a sanctuary for every american citizen in my country- the country that is supposed to welcome, empower, and protect all americans. As I have grown up and become more aware of my surroundings, my life has been drastically affected by the gun violence that I hear about almost everyday on the news. As a generation, I feel like my peers and I are growing up in fear. When we go to a movie, we want to enjoy the film and not worry that someone will pull a trigger. When we go to school, we want to go through one month without having practice lockdown drills. And when we go to airports, we want to look forward to our vacations and not worry about a shooter in the baggage claim.

We are a generation that has so much ability to do so much good in the world, and we do not deserve to have that opportunity taken away from us because of a senseless shot of a bullet. On behalf of myself, Olivia, Michael, and The Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism, I would like to thank Congresswoman Katherine Clark for cosponsoring the Fix Gun Checks Act in the 114th Congress, and urge Representative Clark to support this bill or similar legislation when it is introduced in the 115th Congress.

In March our 11th and 12th graders went to Washington DC to participate in the L'taken Social Justice Seminar, a program by the Religious Action Center that empowers teens to learn about issues that they care about and then advocate to their representatives and senators on the Hill. A few our teens wrote this speech about Criminal Justice Reform below, which they presented at Senator Elizabeth Warren's office.

​Hello, my name is Nathan Lanza, and this is Mia Barr, Anna Singer, and Seth Turk. We are constituents from Massachusetts and are very strong believers in second chances for everyone, so we are here to urge Senator Warren to support laws creating fairer sentences, improving prison practices, and encouraging successful re-entry into society.

Our country was founded on the premise that all men are created equal. This premise, however, has never been fully applied to anyone who isn’t a white male, especially in our criminal justice system. Over-criminalization and mass incarceration have overwhelmingly affected people of color, especially in regards to nonviolent drug offenses. One in every three black males born today is expected to serve time in prison, compared to only one in seventeen white males. Black men, however, are no more likely to use or sell illicit drugs than white men. While we affirm the importance of combatting the problem of illegal drug use and sale, we also believe that substance abuse must be treated as a public health problem, not a criminal behavior one. The harsh mandatory minimums that currently exist for drug crimes create a justice system that is focused more on punishment instead rehabilitation. The Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 was a step in the right direction, but there is always more work to be done to create a more just society.

Once released, prisoners continue to face significant obstacles as they try to re-enter society. The lack of well-organized anti-recidivism programs in many prisons mean that formerly incarcerated individuals do not have the vocational or interpersonal skills necessary to find jobs after prison. Even if they do have these, they frequently find themselves discriminated against by employers. With few job opportunities, these individuals often return to criminal behavior. Once they do, they are often thrown back in prison only to begin the entire cycle of the criminal justice system again. Comprehensive reforms are necessary at all stages of the criminal justice system in order to eliminate racial and ethnic bias, improve rehabilitation and re-entry preparation, and ensure that justice is issued in a way that truly conforms to our values.

The RAC was formed from the Civil Rights Movement, walking hand in hand with Martin Luther King, Jr. and people of color, we stood with people of color throughout the entire Civil Rights Movement and we shouldn’t stop there which is why we are here today. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel said, “The exodus began but is far from having been completed. In fact, it was easier for the children of Israel to cross the Red Sea than it was for a negro to cross certain university campuses”. This verbal representation of everyday life for people of color during the Civil Rights Movement is a perfect example of why the Jewish people need to continue stand in solidarity with people of color because we have stood with them for a long time before. It is our duty as the Jewish people to fight for the legal system to be just and fair to people of color. People of color of are prosecuted because of their skin tone, and stereotypes based on their skin tone the same way jewish people were prosecuted for things such as their religion, and their physical features such as their nose, or hair. We as Jews have faced oppression before, such as in the Holocaust, Tsarist Russia, and even today combatting the anti-semitism that has risen in our society. We have felt alone and isolated in these times of pain, and corruption, so we need to be there for them so they don't feel alone, or afraid anymore which is how the legal system is disproportionately making people of color feel.

I recently read a Rolling Stone article about a mother of two and a recovering prescription drug addict Jennifer Lockwood. In 2009 Jennifer Lockwood was sentenced to 15 years as a plea bargain opposed to the original 25 year minimum given to a person with over 28 grams of possession. She was arrested on site after incorrectly ordering too many Lortab pills. The author says that “invalid possession of just seven pills… triggered three years in prison.” It was here I questioned how Lockwood became addicted in the first place due to prior knowledge of certain pills. I learned that, like thousands of Americans, Lockwood became addicted due to over prescribed pain medication from a professional doctor. The reason this one story resonated so deeply within my moral core was because of the undeniable disregard towards the emotional state of Lockwood and that of her family, knowing that it was not her fault she was addicted in the first place and that the whole missdemeanor was a misconception. Instead of seeking rehabilitation or even simply listening to Lockwood it was immediately decided that Lockwood was a danger to herself and those around her. As a son with a present mother who works with people who tend to have addictions I know that not all people who have addictions are “bad” people. I am a 17 year old young man who is educated enough to see this is wrong and it is both frustrating and preposterous to me that grown and educated Judges can't do the same.

In the 114th Congress, significant criminal justice reform bills such as S. 2123 and H.R. 3713 and were introduced and successfully voted out of committee with strong bipartisan support, although they did not receive a vote on the House or Senate floor. The bills would include:

Reduced mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent offenses

Increased discretion of judges to sentence below the mandatory minimum in certain cases

Made the mandatory minimum reductions and the Fair Sentencing Act provisions retroactive and require that a judge approve every retroactive reduction

Reformed the juvenile justice system by making it easier for juvenile records to be sealed and expunged and by eliminating juvenile solitary confinement in most cases

Offered pathways for individuals to end their sentences in halfway houses or in home confinement if they participate in anti-recidivism and re-entry programs

As constituents of Massachusetts, we urge Senator Warren to support the reintroduction of legislation like the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act and the Sentencing Reform Act to create a more just society.

Inspired by our teens and want to make a difference? You can do any of these three things to help repair the world:1.You can call your representative right now to support Criminal Justice Legislation! All you have to do is call the Congress Switchboard at 202-224-3121. You can easily use the last section of this speech (starting at "In the 114th Congress") as a script.2. Want to go on a similar experience? Talk to Sandy Aronson about the Consultation on Conscience, the Religious Action Center's flagship social justice conference!3. You can Donate to our Youth Engagement Fund to support teens who want to turn their passions into action!

In March our 11th and 12th graders went to Washington DC to participate in the L'taken Social Justice Seminar, a program by the Religious Action Center that empowers teens to learn about issues that they care about and then advocate to their representatives and senators on the Hill. A few our teens wrote this speech below, which they presented at representative Joseph Kennedy III's office.

When looking at the facts, for me, the need for expanding and updating background checks is indisputable. The rate of gun violence in the United States is up to 20 times more than in any other developed countries. Over 40% of guns sold in the U.S today are sold through unlicensed sellers, including at gun shows and online, where Brady background checks are not legally required. Therefore, people who would be otherwise prevented from acquiring guns under the Brady background checks, such as users of controlled substances, people who have committed domestic violence offences, or those declared as a mental defective, are able to gain possession of weapons. According to the Department of Justice, the Brady Bill has prohibited 600,000 disqualified individuals from purchasing guns since its enactment in 1994. However, this bill is clearly not enough considering the “Gun Show Loophole.” This loophole allows private sellers to display gun collections and sell them without the need for a background check. Expanding Brady background checks under the Fix Gun Checks Act would lower the 40% statistic, requiring background checks to all gun sales. This would in turn keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people like felons and fugitives, as well as domestic abusers who are 500 times more likely to kill if they have access to a gun. If the bill is passed, we would hope that the eight kids under the age of 19 who die daily from gun violence, wouldn’t have to.

Not only do we feel a moral commitment to this cause, but as reformed jews, we feel a religious obligation to gun violence prevention. Our Jewish tradition has long emphasized the sanctity and value of human life, and the carelessness with which lives are taken by guns stands in direct violation of our tradition. The Talmud states that “[for] he who takes one life it is as though he has destroyed the universe and [for] he who saves one life it is as though he has saved the universe” (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5). Human life is an entity far too profound and valuable to be sacrificed in incidents of gun violence. Consequently, when we enact legislation to prevent these acts of violence, it is if we are saving entire worlds. And as Jews, we cannot be bystanders to the injustice of gun violence. Leviticus 19:16 tells us, “do not stand idly by while your neighbor’s blood is shed.” At Temple Beth Elohim, congregation members have worked with the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence on passing recent pivotal gun legislation. And as teens, we have worked with the Roxbury Presbyterian Church to raise money for primary prevention programs. None of us have the privilege to be idle in the fight against gun violence, and no single act of advocacy is too small. As Jews, we will continue to advocate for gun violence prevention, and we hope for Legislators in Washington to be inspired by our deeply-rooted Jewish tradition.

After leaving Washington D.C. this afternoon, I will return to my hometown of Newton Massachusetts. Residing in the greater Boston area, many citizens of Newton and surrounding areas live in comfort and relative ease with very little presence of gun violence. For the first 14 years of my life, I had extremely minimal interaction with firearms of any kind. Only once before had I seen a gun on the holster of a police officer in elementary school when a woman had come in to teach us about bike safety. A few years later, my freshman year of high school filled me with stress and anxiety, but even if that was the case, there was no need for me to worry about my safety surrounding stigmas of gun violence. Each day I would walk to and from the bus stop essentially oblivious to the world around me. Looking up one day, a car screeched to a jolting stop less than 10 feet from me. A man spilled out of the drivers side door and began waving a pistol, screaming that he would shoot anyone who moves. By this time, police had moved into position surrounding and secluding the potential shooter. Quickly and quietly I was urged over to safety beyond the police cars. I did not look behind me, I could not look behind me. If I did, it became real to me. To see this man, waving around a gun in the middle of Newton was utterly and completely alien to me. I was terrified beyond any words could describe. Ushered into a side street I continued my walk home. My hands shook and my heart leapt in my throat. For some, those situations may just be a part of their everyday life. But to me, that moment was one I will never forget. Later on, it was found that the man had been admitted to numerous psychiatric facilities for treatment of schizophrenia. However, due to poor out-of-date information and possibly even a lack of a background check, this man was allowed to purchase and obtain a firearm. I share this story with you because for me, I see this experience as once in a lifetime, but for others, this is their daily life. If this law was passed, background checks would become more thorough and necessary resulting in a severe drop in amounts of similar situations.

We want to sincerely thank Congressman Joe Kennedy for being one of the original co-sponsors in the 114th Congress of H.R 3411--The Fix Gun Checks Act. When the law is reintroduced in the 115th Congress, we strongly encourage Congressman Kennedy to continue supporting the act. Thank you for your time, and we look forward to hearing about gun violence prevention legislation in the future.

Inspired by our teens and want to make a difference? You can do any of these three things to help repair the world:1.You can call your representative right now to support the Fix Gun Checks Act! All you have to do is call the Congress Switchboard at 202-224-3121.2. Want to go on a similar experience? Talk to Sandy Aronson about the Consultation on Conscience, the Religious Action Center's flagship social justice conference!3. You can Donate to our Youth Engagement Fund to support teens who want to turn their passions into action!